Stereoscopic projecting-machine.



J. HENLEY.

STEREOSCUPIC PRUJECTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. 191B.

1 ,284,673. Patented Nov; 12, 1918.

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srmeoscomc PHOEECYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1918.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

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Wilma m JOHN HENLEY, OF GHARLEMONT, MO'Y, IRELAND.

STEREOSCOPIC PBQJECTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentd NOV. 12, 1918- Application filed. April 2, 1918. Serial No. 226,240}.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HENLEY, a subject of the King of England, residing at Charlemont, Moy, in the county of Tyrone, Ireland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stereoscopic Projecting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the securing of stereoscopic relief with cinematographs and kindred instruments for producing motion pictures. The invention has for its object to provide an improved method (if viewing said pictures and the means for carrying out said method.

In this invention the images are taken separately and are alternately arranged upon a length of film in a stereoscopic manner and the pictures are viewed through means arranged to alternately permit one eye to have a clear vision while dimming the view of the other eye.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several arts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically'nointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a cabinet containing the machine.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the stripe; Lib:

bon showing the difi'er'elntfa er'tiiFes.

Fig. 4 is a. detail view 0 the film. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the film and ribbon or strip with the driving connec- Figs. 6 and 7 are views showing diflerent means of carrying out the invention.

.In taking the pictures two cameras are -I used} They run synchronously and are mounted; so that their distance apart and theangle of inclination of their-axes (considered asfthe axes of the lenses) may be vai'ied according to the nature of the subject.

Eacn'instrument is fitted on top with crosswira ii nder so that the axes of both may be directed accurately to the same particular part 'of the principal subject. In viewing or ments of different observers.

the ordinary eclipsing arrangement .tain true stereoscopic relief the pictures taken by the left hand recording instrument must be viewed with the left eye and similarly as regards the right hand instrument. This necessitates the use of an occulting apparatus which, according to this invention, is such that one eye has a clear view of any particular picture and the other eye has a dim view of that picture, these clear and dim views alternating from eye to eye with successive pictures. The particular design of the occulating apparatus will partly depend upon whether the pictures are to be viewed by a single individual or collectively by a number of persons. In the former case the film and driving mechanism are inclosed in a cabinet containing an electric bulb, or equivalent, suitably placed for the illumination of'the film. The film viewed under magnification through a pair of lenses capable of adjustment to suit the require- The film runs through the machine, each picture being locked in turn as in ordinary cinematographic projection, but there passes behind the viewing lenses ortion of a continuous steel or celluloid rib on, or equivalent. The steel ribbon contains alternate perforations providing clear openings of any suitable object of thisarrangementis. .tmsecnre that atnotime when 'vi'wihg the pictures shall either eye be entirely deprived of light, though the picture as viewed through the second kind of perforation will be very feeble. This endless band containing the perforations is moved in the same manner as the film and is spaced so that at each stop in its movement-one eye has a clear viewof the film and the other a dim view. The clear view spaces alternate from eye to eye. 'The pictures may be changed during the time that the vision is totally obscured by the passageof the ribbon, thus dispensin with urlng the motion of the film. Thus the right and left eyes obtain a succession of clear views of the right hand and left hand aspects of the subject, as taken in the first instance by the two rectirding instruments, by this opaque. When considered expedient the endless ribbon may be replaced by an oscillating piece containing perforations or spaces as described and fulfilling exactly the same function as the ribbon.

The apparatus is suitable for'the presentation of motion pictures in colors. In this case the left eye and right eye pictures are taken through screens approximatel complementary in color and viewed ,t rough glasses or screens of the same colors. These are arranged in the instrument so that they can be moved into position opposite the right and left eyes when required.

Figs. 1- to 5 of thedrawings illustrate means for carrying out this form of the invention. In these views the device is arranged in a cabinet, part of which is shown at 1 and this cabinet carries the driving mechanism, which may be of any suitable type, for driving the film and the ribbon. The film is indicated at 2 and is shown in detail in Fig. 4. As before stated the film is composed of a plurality of pairs of images each image of a pair being taken by separate camerasand arranged in. an alternate manner on the strip 2. For instance image Xhas' been taken by one camera while image X has been taken by the second camera, said cameras being arranged as before stated. In this way a stereoscopic efl'ect is secured. 3 indicates the pair of viewing lenses carriedby the cabinet and arranged in an inclined relation so that the line of sight of both eyes will converge on the film 2. A suitable lighting medium 4 is located The alter-n to perforations 6," being unob- 'structed while the other perforations .7 are obstructed so that a clear vision may be had through the perforation 6 while a dimmed vision is had through, the perforation 7.

This ribbon is supported by the four rollers 8 one of which is drivn from the driving means before referred to by meansof the shaft- 9. It will thus be seen that each picture on the film is viewed by both eyes, the one giving a. clear view and the'othera dim view of said picture. The next picture is :viewed in the same manner but the obstructed view is transmittedto the other eye.

When it is desired to project the pictures on rfl' screen so that they can be' viewed by a large'number of personssimultaneously the film is-prepared from the'stereoscopic records as already described. 'The occulting apparatus in this case consists -of a light metal electrical vibrator with which each spectator is provided. Its essential features are shown in F ig.'6. A is a sector of col- -ored gelatin, or celluloid, or equivalent so that the occultation never total. It is mounted at the end of a light metal rod B, carried by a suitable handle, and the whole arrangement has a vibration period as nearly as possible the same as the average time occupied by the showing of a single picture. Thus if the pictures are presented at the rate of, say, lfi persecond, the vibrator will make one vibration in one-fifteenth ofa second. This renders the electrical control, of the apparatus very simple, only afeeble current bein required. At each side of the rod B near t 1e base an electromagnet C is fixed, and opposite it on the rod a pole piece D. The moving part of the vibrator is brought to rest after each swing by a point or knife-edge contact upon rubber, or equivalent cushioning means; so that its movements are not attended with noise.

If it is required town the films through the projector at different rates the light rod 'is replaced by a more rigid one, B, Fig. 7,

. theright hand camera are stained Bf giving the complementary light impression. In this case the vibratorsector is fitted with two pieces of colored gelatin, or'equivalenfl (A and B stained), fitted side by side and so placed that the pictures taken with the left hand instrument are viewed through. the B stained gelatin by the right eye, affortling a dim view, through lack of contrast, ofsthe left-hand icture by the. right eye and similarly fort e right hand picture when viewed by the left eye.

Itis thought tion that the advanta es and novelfeatur'es of my invention will e readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make minor changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that, such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is; o v

1. The herein described method of viewing cinematograph pictures stereoscopically prepared consistlng in alternately dimming the vision of one eye while permitting a clear view by the other eye. x

2. Aimotio'n picture'machine for viewing pared compr sing means for alternately infrom the foregoing descripming the vision of one eye while permitting a clear view by the other eye when viewing said pictures.

3. A motion picture machine for viewing cinematograph pictures stereoscopically prepared comprising means for alternately dimming the vision of one eye while permitting a clear view by the other eye when viewing said pictures, said means compris ing an endless ribbon providedwith perforations, alternate perforations being partly obstructed while the other perforations are unobstructed. V

4. A motion picture machine for viewing cinematograph pictures stereoscopieallyprepared comprising means for alternately dimming the vision of one eye while permit-' ting a clear view by the other eye when viewlng sa d p1ctures,sa1d means comprising an endless ribbon provided with perforations, alternate perforations being partly 0bstructed while the other perforations are unobstructed, said perforations bein spaced apart so that the portions of the ri bon between the perforations may be used for t/otallv eclipsing the pictures when changing the film.

5. A motion picture machine comprising Means to move a film'having alternate left and right images and means for alternately dimming the vision of one eye while permitting a clear view by the other eye when viewin said images, said means comprising a mem er having a clear opening therein and an obstructed opening. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN HENLEY. 

